I might conceivably use one for a formal report, but never for an email or casual note - and most of my notes are casual. The first thing I figure out in any new software is how to turn that bullcrap off.

Tools->Spelling and GrammarSelect the Options buttonUncheck the "Check spelling as you type" boxUncheck the "Check grammar as you type" box

I haven't had that exact problem with the french date, but this should completely eliminate MS Word's innumerable helpful suggestions. Now, if you help me locate the "stuff this up Bill's backdoor" switch, I'd be very grateful.

One can always use spell check post facto to edit. The way I write - and the way many people write - is to get all of their thoughts down first and then go edit it. I don't like seeing a lot of distracting "ink" on the "page" while I'm getting my thoughts down.

OTOH, I seldom use the spell check even afterwards, unless it's a formal document.

I never use the grammar check under any circumstances.

Minor misspellings are almost never important to effective communication. Seeing a few of them reminds me that it's a human at the other end.

I have no objection to knowing when I've misspelled something (though it does try to correct things that aren't wrong and its vocabulary is pitiful), but I do dislike its insertion of the wrong date all the time.

I was extremely happy to have found the solution after a whole lot of "trialing and erroring". You know the type - when you click something off, try to see if it fixed the problem, nope, click it back on and click something else off, see if it fixed the problem...

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